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Law and order? We’ll see

Mike GormanEditorial page editor

Published: Thursday, June 20, 2013 at 8:48 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, June 20, 2013 at 8:48 p.m.

U.S. Sen. David Vitter, R-La., is all for the National Security Administration gathering up all the information it can get its claws into about what you do online, who you call on the phone and God knows what else.

He also says the fellow who let Americans know just how much of their lives is under surveillance by the government at all times should be prosecuted.

As most of us know, Vitter has consistently championed law-and-order causes, getting behind just about any effort to stem crime and make our society a safer, better place.

Well, except when it comes to his own ... um ... transgressions.

Vitter admitted to “a very serious sin” in 2007 when his name was linked to a suspected prostitution ring in Washington, D.C.

Despite his admission, though, Vitter was never prosecuted for his “sin.”

His own sins aside, Vitter apparently has more tolerance for the government snooping on people who are suspected of nothing — not a “sin” or even an errant thought.

If you cast a wide enough net, I guess the thinking goes, you’re bound to catch something.

So Americans should be monitored by the government at all times.

And anyone who blows the whistle on such constitutionally questionable spying on American citizens should be prosecuted.

That is the world according to Mr. Vitter.

Since he never turned himself in for his “sin,” we are left to wonder why his enthusiasm for prosecution doesn’t extend to his own shortcomings.

On WRNO radio’s “Denny Schaffer Show” Tuesday, Vitter said, “I don’t think it crosses any constitutional line. I think there’s important oversight. Now, maybe we should put in even more. I wouldn’t be opposed to that at all.”

While the government is watching us, though, the public should not be allowed to keep tabs on it, or so he says.

“Folks who work in those programs and then who blab about it completely contrary to an oath they signed and the law, they should be prosecuted,” Vitter said.

That’s a refreshing and somewhat surprising embrace of prosecutorial zeal.

I’m no fan of disgruntled former employees going off and blabbing about government secrets.

When those secrets, though, offend Americans’ beliefs about our relationship to government, the conversation is an important one to have.

If it takes a whistle blower to bring that conversation before the public, so be it.

Before we prosecute the guy who helped bring this troublesome program to light, let’s prosecute all the people we can find who are credibly suspected of supporting the illegal sex trade.

Or better yet, let’s just insist that the government have an inkling of suspicion before it starts gathering our personal information.

That seems like something that left, right and center can accept, doesn’t it?

Why would the government want information about everyone?

Are we all suspects now until we prove ourselves innocent?

Or is everyone guilty of something, with the government just stepping in to put the pieces of crimes together?

President Obama says the NSA program has already prevented dozens of terror attacks. I find that hard to believe.

Of course, I’m a little less trusting of the government than Obama and Vitter are.

As July 4 approaches, which side of this argument seems closer to the Patriots’ rejection of unreasonable government and which seems closer to the totalitarian system from which our forefathers declared their independence?

You don’t have to answer. They already know what you’re thinking.

Editorial Page Editor Michael Gorman can be reached at 448-7612 or by e-mail at mike.gorman@dailycomet.com.

<p>U.S. Sen. David Vitter, R-La., is all for the National Security Administration gathering up all the information it can get its claws into about what you do online, who you call on the phone and God knows what else.</p><p>He also says the fellow who let Americans know just how much of their lives is under surveillance by the government at all times should be prosecuted.</p><p>As most of us know, Vitter has consistently championed law-and-order causes, getting behind just about any effort to stem crime and make our society a safer, better place.</p><p>Well, except when it comes to his own ... um ... transgressions.</p><p>Vitter admitted to “a very serious sin” in 2007 when his name was linked to a suspected prostitution ring in Washington, D.C.</p><p>Despite his admission, though, Vitter was never prosecuted for his “sin.”</p><p>His own sins aside, Vitter apparently has more tolerance for the government snooping on people who are suspected of nothing — not a “sin” or even an errant thought.</p><p>If you cast a wide enough net, I guess the thinking goes, you're bound to catch something.</p><p>So Americans should be monitored by the government at all times.</p><p>And anyone who blows the whistle on such constitutionally questionable spying on American citizens should be prosecuted.</p><p>That is the world according to Mr. Vitter.</p><p>Since he never turned himself in for his “sin,” we are left to wonder why his enthusiasm for prosecution doesn't extend to his own shortcomings.</p><p>On WRNO radio's “Denny Schaffer Show” Tuesday, Vitter said, “I don't think it crosses any constitutional line. I think there's important oversight. Now, maybe we should put in even more. I wouldn't be opposed to that at all.”</p><p>While the government is watching us, though, the public should not be allowed to keep tabs on it, or so he says.</p><p>“Folks who work in those programs and then who blab about it completely contrary to an oath they signed and the law, they should be prosecuted,” Vitter said.</p><p>That's a refreshing and somewhat surprising embrace of prosecutorial zeal.</p><p>I'm no fan of disgruntled former employees going off and blabbing about government secrets.</p><p>When those secrets, though, offend Americans' beliefs about our relationship to government, the conversation is an important one to have.</p><p>If it takes a whistle blower to bring that conversation before the public, so be it.</p><p>Before we prosecute the guy who helped bring this troublesome program to light, let's prosecute all the people we can find who are credibly suspected of supporting the illegal sex trade.</p><p>Or better yet, let's just insist that the government have an inkling of suspicion before it starts gathering our personal information.</p><p>That seems like something that left, right and center can accept, doesn't it?</p><p>Why would the government want information about everyone?</p><p>Are we all suspects now until we prove ourselves innocent?</p><p>Or is everyone guilty of something, with the government just stepping in to put the pieces of crimes together?</p><p>President Obama says the NSA program has already prevented dozens of terror attacks. I find that hard to believe.</p><p>Of course, I'm a little less trusting of the government than Obama and Vitter are.</p><p>As July 4 approaches, which side of this argument seems closer to the Patriots' rejection of unreasonable government and which seems closer to the totalitarian system from which our forefathers declared their independence?</p><p>You don't have to answer. They already know what you're thinking.</p><p>Editorial Page Editor Michael Gorman can be reached at 448-7612 or by e-mail at mike.gorman@dailycomet.com.</p>